In January 2012, Nigerians, regardless of ethnic or religious affiliation, displayed an uncommon solidarity when they came out in mass to protest the removal of fuel subsidy by the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
Although the Jonathan administration had, at the time, implored Nigerians to see reasons why removing the fuel subsidy and allowing market forces to determine the price of the product, Nigerians were not ready to listen neither did they care to understand the complexities of the fuel subsidy payments.
Fast forward to the present, the said subsidy has been removed and the price of fuel product bench-marked at a ceiling price of #145 by the President Buhari administration.
At the time of the protest in 2012, the then opposition parties -that later banded together to form the ruling All Progressive Congress, effectively ending the era of the Peoples Democratic Party- had harped on the fuel subsidy crisis, condemning its removal in the strongest possible terms.
Now the APC party is in power and have removed the same subsidy regime, having seen and understood why the subsidy should be removed.
Here are the reactions of Nigerians on Twitter using #OccupyNigeria:
2012 in memory, where is Tunde Bakare, pat Utomi, Babatunde Fashola, Femi Falana n all d musicians dat entertain us #OccupyNigeria FRAUD!?
— Akinpelu tayo (@olutyakinpelu) May 12, 2016
Daily, you wake up hoping to be able to cope with the current bad situation in Nigeria. It gets worse. When will this end? #OccupyNigeria
— Ebube Ahiarakwe (@EbubeAhiarakwe) May 12, 2016
Folks revising history to make #OccupyNigeria to be about (perceived) corruption and ineptitude by GEJ and not… https://t.co/5czkbocQI3
— Yemi Tula (@yemitula) May 12, 2016
#OccupyNigeria of 2012 was a splendid solidarity action which I'm not sure can have same effect now.
Attention has been so much divided.— Mr_Kayjob® (@Mr_Kayjob) May 12, 2016
It will be lies in fight for justice if those that supported it in 2012 keep quiet now in the name of 'e are now in power' #OccupyNigeria
— Don Pablo (@DEEDOLLAR) May 12, 2016
If it was not acceptable in 2012 it shouldn't be now. Time for the masses to stand up for its right. #OccupyNigeria
— Don Pablo (@DEEDOLLAR) May 12, 2016
I did not protest because the government was corrupt, but because of the hardship subsidy removal would bring on Nigerians #OccupyNigeria
— OnyeIsiOkanga II (@dictrace) May 12, 2016
In 2012, the economy was better, light situation was better, yet we came out and protested against subsidy removal #OccupyNigeria
— OnyeIsiOkanga II (@dictrace) May 12, 2016
2012 #OccupyNigeria. Revolutionaries @elrufai and @DinoMelaye protesting the removal of fuel subsidy. pic.twitter.com/lcs6f56etZ
— Pa Ikhide (@ikhide) May 12, 2016
If you are unhappy with @MBuhari removing #FuelSubsidy then go and #OccupyNigeria or SHUT UP. Those who opposed… https://t.co/fxqpnaKlQp
— Kayode Ogundamisi (@ogundamisi) May 11, 2016
Folks revising history to make #OccupyNigeria to be about (perceived) corruption and ineptitude by GEJ and not the subsidy removal are 1/
— Mr. Aye Dee (@MrAyeDee) May 11, 2016
The reason we allied to #OccupyNigeria has come to pass, perception of GEJ-led gov't as untrustworthy and corrupt. pic.twitter.com/ouy3yGKZqc
— Gimba Kakanda (@gimbakakanda) May 11, 2016
#OccupyNigeria So for doing what PB did, Pres Spokes., @toluogunlesi compared GEJ 2 Boko Haram & called him callous. pic.twitter.com/APthCDpI9J
— Mr. Aye Dee (@MrAyeDee) May 11, 2016
Crude oil was $111.67 when GEJ deregulated at 141 Naira. Crude oil is around $40 now and Buhari has deregulated at N145 Naira #OccupyNigeria
— Arafrika Sankara (@arafrika) May 11, 2016
I have no apologies on #OccupyNigeria. None.
— Oluseun Onigbinde (@seunonigbinde) May 11, 2016
I'm enjoying the interpretation and re-interpretations of #OccupyNigeria. Its amazing how personal agenda clouds the judgments of smart folk
— Taiwo's Husband (@YomaVictor) May 11, 2016
Buhari is not GEJ. GEJ is a democrat, Buhari is a tyrant. If you #OccupyNigeria, he will order shoot at sight.
Don't say I didn't warn you
— Gomez (@Gomeznsude) May 11, 2016
Those who instigated #OccupyNigeria knew what they were fighting for (e.g. Dino Melaye), I'm referring to the chumps https://t.co/MeomoHP6le
— Onye Nkuzi (@cchukudebelu) May 11, 2016
It is one thing to fight
And another thing to "fight" when you have absolutely no idea what you are "fighting for"#OccupyNigeria
— Onye Nkuzi (@cchukudebelu) May 11, 2016
APC is fraud!
Under GEJ, they #OccupyNigeria till he compromised.
Where's Pastor Tunde Bakare?
Won't he mobilize people this time around?— #PlateauKillings (@highbeely) May 11, 2016
Same for a majority of #OccupyNigeria protesters, distrust justified by the level of corruption unearthed since then https://t.co/DLCyINm5jd
— Bukola Ogunyemi (@zebbook) May 11, 2016
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